Fixation member for an intraocular lens

Abstract

An intraocular lens comprising a deformable optic and a fixation member for use in supporting the optic in the eye. The fixation member includes an annulus surrounding the optic and a plurality of resilient struts interconnecting the optic with the annulus. The struts tend to be compressively loaded by the posterior capsule of the eye after implantation. To prevent buckling of the resilient struts in an axial direction due to the imposed compressive loads, the struts are curved in a circumferential direction when in an unloaded state, thereby being predisposed to further bow in the same circumferential direction upon imposition of the compressive load. This predisposition to bow circumferentially avoids severe problems incurred if the struts are permitted to buckle axially, such as tilting of the optic and impaired vision for the patient.

I claim: 
     
       1. An intraocular lens for implantation into an eye comprising: a deformable optic;   an annular fixation member of resilient deformable material for supporting said optic in the eye, said fixation member being coupled to and circumscribing said optic;   said fixation member having a plurality of openings therein, said openings being elongated; and   the fixation member including an annulus and a plurality of resiliently deformable struts arranged in spoke-like fashion around the periphery of said optic, said struts being attached to the optic and the annulus, said struts being paired with the proximal ends and the distal ends of the two struts in each pair thereof being closely spaced at their attachment locations to the optic and to the annulus, respectively, and said two struts in each of said pairs being curved in opposite circumferential directions with respect to one another.   
     
     
       2. The intraocular lens as defined in claim 1 wherein said annular fixation member and said optic are integrally molded. 
     
     
       3. The intraocular lens as defined in claim 1 wherein said optic, said strut, and said annulus are all integrally molded of a material selected from the group consisting of silicone and hydrogel. 
     
     
       4. The intraocular lens as defined in claim 1 wherein said elongated openings are formed between the two struts in each pairing thereof. 
     
     
       5. An intraocular lens for implantation into an eye comprising: a deformable optic;   a resiliently deformable support for supporting said optic in the eye and including an annulus circumscribing said optic and a plurality of struts integrally joining the optic and the annulus;   each of said struts being adapted to bow circumferentially in response to a compressive load applied generally along said struts from the annulus toward the optic; and   each of said struts having a proximal end attached to said optic and a distal end attached to said annulus, said struts being paired with the proximal ends and the distal ends of the two struts in each pair thereof being closely spaced at their attachment locations on the optic and on the annulus, respectively, and said two struts being curved in opposite circumferential directions with respect to one another.   
     
     
       6. The intraocular lens as defined in claim 5 wherein said optic, said struts, and said annulus are all integrally molded together. 
     
     
       7. The intraocular lens as defined in claim 6 wherein said optic, said struts, and said annulus are all integrally molded of a material selected from the group consisting of silicone and hydrogel.